A 76-year-old woman with emphysema presents with respiratory distress that has worsened progressively over the past 2 days. She is breathing through pursed lips and has a prolonged expiratory phase and an oxygen saturation of 76%. She is on home oxygen at 2 L/min. Your initial action should be to:A. increase her oxygen flow rate to 6 L/min. B. administer a beta-2 agonist via nebulizer. C. place her in a position that facilitates breathing. D. auscultate her lungs for adventitious breath sounds.

The correct answer to the question is option C

PLACE HER IN A POSITION THAT FACILITATES BREATHING.

Explanation: Emphysema is a condition of the respiratory system,in emphysema,there is significant damage of the air sacs in the lungs altering breathing and exchange of gases and leading to breathlessness.

Respiratory distress,pursed lips breathing,prolonged expiratory phase and low oxygen saturation all indicates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

One of the initial management of respiratory distress is proper positioning.cardiac positioning is the best position to ease breathing difficulty.

The woman should be made to lie on her back with a pillow under her head to support her,the best should be raised at an angle of 30° ,and two pillows should be placed under the hands and arms to support it two pillows placed under the both ones for support too.

This type of position will help relief tensing in the patients abdominal and respiratory muscles and as well ease the tension that occurs to the chest during gravity,promote venous return and prevent thromboembolism.

The patient can also be made to lie on her back,her head elevated with pillow and a pillow will be placed between her legs.

These positions makes the respiratory airways to relax and thus easing breathing.

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